Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Four Aslan Transports

A pair of Ihatei-class Transports sponsored by the Loakhtarl clan survey unclaimed systems in distant Kyatulyare’ (Iphigenaia) sector.

As I was working on the Taorl Riftliner I realized that at least one Aslan ship from Classic Traveller doesn’t seem to have been converted to Mongoose Traveller. As described in the adventure “Syareahtaorl” from Alien Module 1: Aslan (1984), the Loakhtarl clan outfitted an ihatei fleet with “ten armed 50,000-ton ships, each capable of Jump-3 and 3-G. Each ship carried 10,000 tons of cargo (primarily colonial supplies), a crew of 300, and a colonial force of 1,700 and represented some of the best shipbuilding the clan could obtain” (38).

This is an impressive fleet just in terms of starship tonnage alone, a tribute to the vast resources that the Loakhtarl clan could still command in 1081. The ships are not statted out in AM1, but the MegaTraveller Rebellion Sourcebook (1988) does have stats for an unarmed 50,000-ton Ihatei-class Transport with Jump-3 and 1-G, which looks to be a variant on the ships described in “Syareahtaorl.” Using a converted Ihatei as a base I designed the Oakhtitl-class Transport, which better matches the description from AM1.

Early drafts of Traveller5 provide thumbnails of a couple of much smaller Aslan transports, neither of which made it into the final draft. For each vessel we get a Quick Ship Profile (QSP), which gives us the hull configuration and tonnage, as well as specifications on the jump and maneuver drives. An unarmed “Aslan Clan Transport” is briefly described in the “Green List: the casual user’s ship recognition guide distributed by the Travellers’ Aid Society.” Based on the QSP, this ship appears to be a slightly smaller, streamlined variant of the familiar Khtukhao-class Clan Transport. I’ve worked up a conversion I’ve named the Yokuarla Colonial Transport.

Based on the QSP, the Taorl Exploratory Merchant has twice the tonnage of the Yokuarla-class. As Taorl had already been used as a class name for the Riftliner, I renamed this ship the Taoleila Exploratory Merchant to avoid confusion.

Yokuarla Colonial Transport

The Yokuarla (TL-ES22) is primarily operated on the borders of the Imperium. Although not as common as the 600-ton Khtukhao Clan Transport, the Yokuarla fills a similar niche, providing passenger and cargo service on the frontiers of Aslan space. Cultural differences make passage a minefield of missteps and perceived insults, and human Travellers are advised to consider booking passage on such a ship only as a last resort.

Hull Points 200

Crew Pilot, Purser, Astrogator, Engineer, Smallcraft Crew

Maintenance Cost Cr14,472 per month

Purchase Cost MCr164.468

Yokuarla Colonial Transport
TL12 TonsCost (MCr)
Hull500 tons, Streamlined30
M-DriveThrust 21020
J-DriveJump 23045
Power PlantFusion (TL12), Power 3252121
Fuel TanksJ-2, 4 weeks of operation106
BridgeStandard202.5
ComputerComputer/205
SensorsCivilian Grade13
CraftDocking Space (40 tons)4411
 Pinnace8.71
 Docking Spaces (4 tons) x292.25
 Air/Rafts x20.5
SystemsFuel Processor (20 tons per day)10.05
 Shrine to Heroes40.5
 Medical Bay42
 Workshop60.9
StateroomsStandard x18729
 Low Berths x20101
SoftwareLibrary
 Maneuver/0
 Jump Control/20.2
Common Areas181.8
Cargo144

Taoleila Exploratory Merchant

The flowing lines and multiple subhulls of the Aslan Taoleila-class Exploratory Merchant (RL-KS13) are characteristic of most ihatei ships.

Hull Points 400

Crew Pilot, Purser, Astrogator, Engineers x3, Maintenance, Smallcraft Crew

Maintenance Cost Cr28,074 per month

Purchase Cost MCr322.225

Taoleila Exploratory Merchant
TL12 TonsCosts (MCr)
Hull1,000 tons, Streamlined60
M-DriveThrust 11020
J-DriveJump 380120
Power PlantFusion (TL12), Power 6354242
Fuel TanksJ-3, 4 weeks operation310
Bridge 205
ComputerComputer/205
SensorsCivilian Grade13
CraftDocking Space (95 tons)10526.25
 Shuttle14.67
SystemsFuel Processor (40 tons/day)20.1
 Medical Bay42
 Shrine to Heroes40.5
 Workshop60.9
StateroomsStandard x3514017.5
 Low Berths x30151.5
SoftwareJump Control/30.3
 Library
 Maneuver/0
Common Areas353.5
Cargo226

Ihatei Transport

The Aslan Ihatei-class Transport is one of several standard designs encountered in Aslan colonial fleets. Like all of them, it provides economical movement of a large number of colonists in low berths and their supporting heavy equipment and start-up supplies (about 1.5 tons per colonist).

An Ihatei Transport is unarmed and relatively slow in normal space, relying upon its great size and moderate armor for protection. As such these transports often travel in convoys with armed ships such as Ekawisykua-class escorts.

The listed purchase cost for an Ihatei Transport reflects a discount for a standard design.

Hull Points 25,000

Crew Pilot, Purser, Astrogator, Sensor Operators x3, Officers x12, Engineers x100, Maintenance x25, Administrators x12, Smallcraft Crew x16, Medics x84

Maintenance Cost MCr1.124915 per month

Purchase Cost MCr13,295.693

Ihatei Transport
TL12 TonsCosts (MCr)
Hull50,000 tons, Streamlined3,000
ArmorCrystaliron, Armor: 75,2501,050
M-DriveThrust 15001,000
J-DriveJump 33,7555,632.5
Power PlantFusion (TL12), Power 40,2002,6802,680
Fuel TanksJ-3, 4 weeks operation15,536
Bridge 60250
ComputerComputer/205
SensorsImproved (Distributed Arrays)912.9
 Life Scanner12
 Mineral Detection Suite5
CraftDocking Spaces (95 tons) x8836209
 Shuttles x8117.4
 Docking Spaces (50 tons) x8440110
 Cutters x885.9
 Docking Spaces (4 tons) x104411
 Air/Rafts x102.5
SystemsFuel Processor (2,000 tons/day)1005
 Medical Bays x4168
 Shrines to Heroes x5202.5
 Workshops x4243.6
StateroomsStandard x13453667
 Low Berths x10,0005,000500
SoftwareJump Control/30.3
 Library
 Maneuver/0
Common Areas13413.4
Cargo15,059

Oakhtitl Transport

The Oakhtitl-class Transport is a notable variant of the Ihatei-class. While the Ihatei is expressly designed to carry Aslan to an established colony world, the Oakhtitl is built for exploration and raiding in frontier areas. Although by no means a warship, the Transport is modestly armed and armored, and more manueverable than an Ihatei, carrying 10 torpedo boats (High Guard Update 2022). An Oakhtitl includes barracks and an armory for 1,000 Aslan soldiers, who serve as ship’s troops or a ground assault force during planetary raids.

The listed purchase cost for an Oakhtitl Transport reflects a discount for a standard design.

Hull Points 25,000

Crew Captain, Executive Officer, Pilots x3, Astrogator, Sensor Operators x9, Officers x28, Engineers x116, Maintenance x51, Administrators x25, Gunners x36, Smallcraft Crew x26, Medics x16, Troops x1,000

Maintenance Cost MCr1.388758 per month

Purchase Cost MCr16,162.982

Oakhtitl Transport
TL12 TonsCosts (MCr)
Hull50,000 tons, Streamlined3,000
ArmorCrystaliron, Armor: 96,7501,350
M-DriveThrust 31,5003,000
J-DriveJump 33,7555,632.5
Power PlantFusion (TL12), Power 41,3002,7532,753
Fuel TanksJ-3, 6 weeks operation15,828
Bridge 60250
ComputerComputer/20fib7.5
SensorsImproved (Distributed Arrays)912.9
 Life Scanner12
 Mineral Detection Suite5
WeaponsLarge Missile Bays x21,00050
 Medium Particle Beam Bays x8800320
 Triple Turrets (beam laser) x8820
 Triple Turrets (missile rack) x8826
 Triple Turrets (sandcaster) x8814
AmmunitionMissile Storage (1,920 missiles)160
 Sandcaster Canister Storage (500 canisters)25
CraftDocking Spaces (95 tons) x6627156.75
 Shuttles x688.05
 Docking Spaces (70 tons) x10770192.5
 Torpedo Boats x10414.07
 Docking Spaces (4 tons) x104411
 Air/Rafts x102.5
SystemsArmory20050
 Fuel Processor (2,000 tons/day)1005
 Medical Bays x4168
 Probe Drones x2042
 Shrines to Heroes x5202.5
 Workshops x4243.6
StateroomsStandard x8713,484435.5
 Barracks x1,0001,00050
SoftwareJump Control/30.3
 Library
 Maneuver/0
Common Areas94294.2
Cargo10,104

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